) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) JUNE 16, 2008
The Board of
Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met
for a Budget Work Session regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2008-09
County Budget in the
Commissioners’ Chambers of the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Building
(Administrative
Building) located in Danbury, North Carolina on Monday, June 16, 2008
at 9:00 am with the
following members present:
Chairman
J. Leon Inman
Vice-Chairman
Jimmy Walker
Commissioner Ron
Carroll
Commissioner
Ernest Lankford
Commissioner
Stanley Smith
County
Personnel in Attendance:
County
Manager K. Bryan Steen
Clerk
to the Board Darlene Bullins
Finance
Director Julia Edwards
Emergency
Medical Services Director Monty Stevens
Vehicle
Maintenance Supervisor Elwood Mabe
Chairman J. Leon Inman called the Budget Work
Session to order and delivered the
invocation.
Chairman Inman opened
the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to
join the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Opening
Remarks
Chairman Inman
expressed his appreciation to everyone’s willingness to work
together to adopt a 2008-09 fiscal year budget.
Chairman Inman
requested Board members to note which departments they would like
to discuss.
Commissioner Carroll noted
the following:
§ Administration
§ Arts Council
§ Contingency
§ Economic
Development
§ Emergency
Management
§ Emergency Medical
Services
§ Fire Marshal
§ Public Buildings
§ Schools
§ Senior Services
§ Sheriff’s
Department
§ Social Services
§ Superior Court
§ Fire Districts
Commissioner Lankford noted the following:
§ All departments
Vice Chairman Walker noted the following:
§ All departments
Chairman Inman suggested starting with
reviewing each department.
Administration
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Administration Budget:
§ Commissioner
Carroll noted to the need to look at additional staff for Administration in the
future, possibly sharing with Economic Development
§ Possible options
for additional staffing for the Administration office
§ County Manager Bryan
Steen noted the salary market study should be bided out in November or December
with results back to the County in February 09 in order to review for the
upcoming 2009-10 fiscal year budget.
Manager Steen noted
that no new positions were recommended in this proposed budget,
other than grant positions that have already been approved by the
Board.
Animal
Control
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Animal Control Budget:
§ Animal Control
Advisory Council – appointment process underway
§ Professional Fees
– increase due to veterinarian services and purchase of lethal injections for
certain animal
§ Supplies –
increase in the cost of dog and cat food along with vaccines
§ $25,000 from the
2007-08 budget placed in Capital Reserve until the State approves euthanasia
methods
Arts Council
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Arts Council Budget:
§ Commissioner
Carroll noted issues with a county employee (Arts Council Director) that has to
secure funding for part of their salary
§ Commissioner
Lankford noted that the Director had no issues with securing part of his
salary, Chairman Inman echoed Commissioner Lankford’s comments
§ Proposed director
salary – funded 70% by County and 30% by Arts Council
§ Need to look at
100% funding for director’s position in the future
Economic
Development
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Economic Development Budget:
§ Economic
Development Director position reinstated to full time
§ Additional Kobe
Wieland Copper Incentive Grant - $160,000 if Kobe completes the requirements of
the grant
§ Vice Chairman
Walker noted the need for additional staff in the future, possibly for tourism
§ After hiring of a
new director, director will need to review the budget
§ Commissioner
Carroll noted there is more to Economic Development than just staffing an
office, at some point, the County must devote some substantial funding to
Economic Development for infrastructure
§ Commissioner
Lankford noted the need for the County to determine which direction Economic
Development should go
§ Manager Steen
noted after the hiring of a director, assessment done by the Economic
Development Commission, funding discussion could take place in February for the
upcoming 2009-10 fiscal year
§ Professional
Services – funding is used for marketing, website maintenance, advertising,
etc.
Emergency
Communications
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Emergency Communications Budget:
§ Quality
Coordinator position funded by EMD Grant
§ Increases in
health insurance and utilities
§ Work load
pertaining to the IT position that is housed in the Communications department,
responsibilities and duties, assessment of the position during the next fiscal
year, position funded by E911 funding
Emergency
Management Services
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Emergency Management Budget:
§ Increase in
telephone and internet due to relocation of office
Emergency
Medical Services
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Emergency Medical Services Budget:
§ Increase in
telephone and internet due to relocation of office which is shared with
Emergency Management Services
§ (3) ambulance
remounts with financing to be in the 2009-10 budget
§ Major increase in
auto supplies which is for fuel only
§ Email from Medical
Director Dr. Carl Beavers for the need of new ambulances
§ Need for a
rotation plan to replace ambulances
§ Mileage for front
line ambulances as of June 6, 2008:
2005 - Unit one = 135,510 with maintenance
cost of $19,000 for fiscal year
2006 - Unit two = 75,632 with maintenance cost
of $3900 for fiscal year
2005 - Unit three = 145,615 with maintenance
cost of $14,000 for fiscal year
2005 - Unit four = 170,276
1997 - Unit five = 331,515
Spares
Unit six = 278,784
Unit seven = 328,821
Unit eight = 251,992
Unit nine = 267,123
§ Commissioner
Carroll noted the need to hear from Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor Elwood Mabe
and EMS Director Monty Stevens on the issue of ambulances
§ Commissioner
Lankford noted that four of the five front line have less that 200,000 with one
unit under 100,000
§ Reliability of the
front line units
§ Director Stevens
and Supervisor Mabe discussed the current engine problems with the front line
ambulances, only one of the five front line units is still under warranty
§ Forsyth, Yadkin,
and Davie counties having similar issues with the diesel units that have the
series 60 engine, four of the County’s five front line units have the series 60
engine, older 73 series ambulances are not having as many problems as the newer
60 series
§ Director Stevens
and Supervisor Mabe discussed Ford versus GMC models, if GMC is purchased,
boxes will have to have modifications
§ Discussion of gas
versus diesel units
§ Supervisor Mabe
noted that improvements have been made to the 60 series since the county
purchased their last unit
§ Commissioner Smith
noted the need to look into purchasing a “mid liner” series that could possibly
provide longer longevity
§ Commissioner
Lankford noted that even a “new” unit can have problems
§ Director Stevens
and Vehicle Supervisor Mabe recommended the purchase of the two Demos possibly
replacing units 1 & 5
§ Director Stevens
spoke with a vendor today and received the following quote:
2 Demo units available = Ford Type 1, 3200 miles, similar units, could
have the unit ready immediately, new unit =$130,000 each, demos = $110,000 each
§ Director Stevens
recommendation = Purchase 2 demo units: units ready to go, this helps out right
know, getting the units in services immediately, replacing units #1 and #5,
reducing maintenance costs
§ Vehicle Supervisor
Mabe recommendation = Purchasing 2 demo
units
§ Discussion of 3
remounts versus 2 new demo units, remounts takes much longer at least 5 to 6
weeks turn around time
§ Possibly using
Truck #310 which is currently not in use for Life One
§ Possibly selling
one or two spare units, continuous labor on units extremely costly
§ Efforts being made
to conserve fuel, looking at selling Sheriff’s vehicles that are usually passed
to other departments and replacing them with small compact vehicles that get
better gas mileage
Chairman Inman directed Director Stevens to
discuss with vendor regarding all options
relating to purchasing demo units or having remounts on existing
ambulances.
Environmental
Health
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Environmental Health Budget:
§ Need for a report
pertaining to contractual services being done
§ Manager Steen
noted that only one contract person is currently working
§ Proposed increase
for well permit to $250.00 which is not included in the proposed budget
§ Manager Steen
presented explanation of New North Carolina Private Water Well Rules -
effective 07-01-2008
§ Commissioner
Lankford, Vice Chairman Walker, Chairman Inman stated no increase in well
permit fees until services improve
§ Commissioner Smith
stated that he needed more information before deciding on increasing the well
permit
§ Commissioner
Carroll stated that fees should be imposed on those who use the services and
not on all taxpayers
§ County Manager
Steen review the changes in the well permitting rules noting new documents to
be completed, additional testing with test kit costing $57.00
§ Still having back
log for permits, Commissioners still receiving complaints relating to having to
wait for a permit approval
§ Vice Chairman
Walker requested information regarding surrounding counties fees for well
inspections
§ Need for further
information regarding the proposed well permit increase especially from
surrounding counties
Manager Steen noted the $2.00
increase in solid waste tipping fees, the fee is being
increased by the State to the County, increased fee is included in the
proposed budget
Finance
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Finance Budget:
§ Computers
recommended by Data Processing
§ Need for fireproof
filing cabinet for personnel records
Fire Marshal
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Fire Marshal Budget:
§ Deputy Fire
Marshal position is under review and unfunded for fiscal year
2008-09
§ Funding of the two
Fire Marshal’s positions currently being paid by Service District Funding
§ Commissioner
Carroll noted the need to fund the two Fire Marshal’s position (currently being
funded by Service District funding) with general funding
§ Commissioner
Carroll noted if service district funding were going to be used, it should be
appropriated by population, service district, etc
§ Fire Marshal
positions, responsibilities, duties, etc
§ Questions
regarding the number of employees in the Fire Marshal’s office
§ Fire Service
District – increased tax last year to cover the salary and benefits for the two
Fire Marshal’s positions
§ Questioned
authority to charge King Fire District, Walnut Cove Vol. Fire District, and
Rural Hall Fire District regarding funding of two Fire Marshal positions
Health
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Health Budget:
§ New grant position
already approved by the Board – Office Support III
§ Finance Director
Julia Edwards presented corrected copies of the proposed budget reflecting the
new grant position and additional revenue recently approved by the Board
§ Grant position
will not be a recurring item
§ Personnel
re-organization of department, replacement of physician position with an
additional Physician Extender II position
§ Increases in
medical supplies, insurance and bonds, utilities,
§ Board of Health
approved the proposed submitted budget
§ County General
Funding = $157,665
Home Health
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Home Health Budget:
§ Professional Fees
– increase due to occupational, speech, and physical therapy usage
§ County Manager
Bryan Steen noted the changes being experienced by Home Health, private vendors
being able to house individuals in the hospitals who speak to patients
regarding their services, this is taking a toll on revenues along with
vacancies in nursing positions
§ Commissioner
Carroll stated that he had experienced individuals from private organizations
in the hospitals who try to contract with the patients for home health services
§ Board of Health
currently exploring other options – selling to an independent entity, sending
out request for proposals to be sent to interested parties
§ Final decision
must be decided and approved by the Board of Commissioners
§ County Manager
Bryan Steen discussed the loss of revenue and lack of staff
§ Need for new
health director to assess Home Health Services
§ Vice Chairman
Walker suggested possibly talking to Baptist and Forsyth regarding the issue of
private organizations offering services while Home Health is not able to place
individuals there – needs to be a level playing field
§ Commissioner
Carroll noted that when Home Health was started, there was a need to provide
the services to the citizens, now there are several private organizations that
offer those services
§ Concerns whether
all citizens in the County are being served
Jail
The Board discussed the following regarding
the proposed Jail Budget:
§ Finance Director
Julia Edwards presented an updated copy of the proposed Jail budget which
reflects the request from Sheriff Mike Joyce and Captain Al Tuttle to take the
requested radios out of the proposed budget and fund the cost from Fine and
Forfeitures in the current budget; also deletes reclassification of positions
that were not proposed by the County Manager
§ Budget Amendment
will be forwarded to the Board for funding of the radios from Fines and
Forfeitures in current budget
Closed
Session
Chairman Inman
entertained a motion to enter into closed session for the following:
§
To
consider the initial employment or
appointment of an individual to any office or position, other than a vacancy in
the Board of County Commissioners or any other public body, or to consider the
qualifications, competence, performance, character, and fitness of any public
officer or employee, other than a member of the Board of Commissioners or of some
other public body pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(6).
Commissioner Lankford moved to enter into
closed session for the following:
§
To
consider the initial employment or
appointment of an individual to any office or position, other than a vacancy in
the Board of County Commissioners or any other public body, or to consider the
qualifications, competence, performance, character, and fitness of any public
officer or employee, other than a member of the Board of Commissioners or of
some other public body pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(6).
Vice Chairman Walker seconded and the motion
carried unanimously.
The
Board returned to open session of the June 16th meeting.
Commissioner Carroll requested the DSS
Director be at a budget session to discuss the
DSS proposed budget.
Commissioner Lankford
requested the following information:
§ Lowest interest
rate on $1 million dollars for capital needs – 5 and 10 year terms with payment
starting in 2009-10
Vice Chairman Walker requested the following
information:
§ How does Local
Government Commission (LGC) view the County’s progress on building the fund
balance if this year the fund balance does not increase and what effect will
that be on future financing?
§ What the LGC looks
at and what kind of continual progress
are they looking for?
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before
the Board, Chairman Inman entertained
a motion to adjourn the budget work session.
Commissioner Lankford moved to adjourn the
budget work session. Commissioner
Smith seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
_________________________
_____________________________
Darlene M.
Bullins
J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the
Board Chairman